Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Banff travel guide

Banff Tourism | Banff Guide

You're Going to Love Banff

With a population of 7,502, Banff is a must-see destination in Alberta, Canada. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Banff deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

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Where to Eat in Banff

If you’re looking for affordable options, Fairmont Banff Springs – Special Events (405 Spray Avenue) and Bluebird Woodfired Steakhouse & Fondue (214 Lynx St) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Earls Kitchen + Bar - Banff (299 Banff Ave) and Coyotes Southwestern Grill (206 Caribou St) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Banff.

When to visit Banff

Banff in December
Estimated package price
C$ 77
2 travellers
Flight to Banff
3 nights at hotel
Banff in December
Estimated package price
C$ 77
2 travellers
Flight to Banff
3 nights at hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Banff in July, when the average temperature is 15 °C, and the highest can go up to 22 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is December, when it can get as cold as -13 °C, with an average temperature of -9 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 68 mm. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Banff, with an average rainfall of 17 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Banff

Plane

Although Banff doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Calgary Airport (YYC), which is located 67 miles from Banff. Calgary Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from WestJet, Delta, Air Canada and other airlines departing from Canada. The shortest domestic flight to Banff departs from Vancouver and takes around 30m.

Car

Another option to get to Banff is to pick up a car rental from Calgary, which is about 66 miles from Banff. You’ll find branches of Turo and Hertz, among others, in Calgary.

Plane

Although Banff doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Calgary Airport (YYC), which is located 67 miles from Banff. Calgary Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from WestJet, Delta, Air Canada and other airlines departing from Canada. The shortest domestic flight to Banff departs from Vancouver and takes around 30m.

Car

Another option to get to Banff is to pick up a car rental from Calgary, which is about 66 miles from Banff. You’ll find branches of Turo and Hertz, among others, in Calgary.

Airports near Banff

YYCCalgary
YQFRed Deer

Airlines serving Banff

Lufthansa
Good (8,139 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,539 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,121 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,006 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,472 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,256 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,626 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (944 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,995 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,743 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,628 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,883 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,212 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,347 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,420 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (424 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,479 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,413 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,340 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (1,292 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Banff

Where to stay in Banff

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hi Banff Alpine Centre - Hostel and Bow View Lodge. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Banff, with prices from C$ 104 to C$ 2,322 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Banff are about 12% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Banff

Most booked hotels in Banff

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Hotel Canoe and Suites
4 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
C$ 763+
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Otter Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
C$ 710+
View
Canalta Lodge
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
C$ 666+
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Banff Park Lodge
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
C$ 666+
View
Sunshine Mountain Lodge
0 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
C$ 444+
View
Rundlestone Lodge
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
C$ 550+
View

Renting a car in Banff

Renting a car in Banff costs C$ 90 per day, on average, or C$ 179 if you want to rent it for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Avis are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Banff is the Avis branch at 317 Banff Avenue, which is 0 miles from the downtown.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 19% cheaper than airport locations in Banff.

Expect to pay C$ 1.86 per litre in Banff (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 22.25 and C$ 29.66.

Renting a car in Banff costs C$ 90 per day, on average, or C$ 179 if you want to rent it for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Avis are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Banff is the Avis branch at 317 Banff Avenue, which is 0 miles from the downtown.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 19% cheaper than airport locations in Banff.

Expect to pay C$ 1.86 per litre in Banff (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 22.25 and C$ 29.66.

Best car rental deals in Banff

Compact

4 adults, 2 Bags

C$ 57/day

Compact

Intermediate

5 adults, 3 Bags

C$ 59/day

Intermediate
Find car rentals in Banff